Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting

November 16, 2005

http://www.scsu.ctstateu.edu/organizations/facultysenate

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The sixth meeting of the 2005-2006 year was called to order at 12:10 PM.

Members Present:

Emenyonu (Accounting), LaDousa (Anthropology), Vu (Art), Slomba (Art), Pang (Chemistry), Jirsa (Com Disorders/MFT), DaPonte (Computer Science), Fullmer (Earth Science), Mills (Econ/Finance), Corbett (Education), Diamantis (Education), Madonia (Ed Leadership), Larocco (English), Johnson (English), Blackmer (English),  Sakalowsky (Geography), Amerman (History), Madison (History), Dunklee (Journalism), Clerc (Library Services), Reynaga (Library Services),  Oppedisano (Management), Prince (Marketing), Dennis (Math), Brin (Math),  O’Brien (Media Studies), Wagner (Nursing), Aronson (Nursing), Young (Part-time Faculty), Capone (Part-time Faculty), Gilliand (Philosophy), Enjalran (Physics), Paulson (Political Science), Sherman (Psychology), Brancazio (Psychology), Bulmer (Public Health), Smith (Recreation/Leisure), Cusato (Science Ed/Env Stud), Dripchak (Social Work), Keenan (Social Work), Bloch (Sociology), Brucker (Special Ed/Reading), Major (Special Ed/Reading), Nye (Theatre)

Members Absent:

Maloney (Athletics), Lerud (Biology), Petroski (Communication), Lawler (Counseling), De Barbieri (Couns/Sch Psych), Yang (Exercise Science), Rinehardt (Exercise Science), Pennisi (Foreign Language), Piemontese (Foreign Language), McGinn (Library Science), Kuss (Music), Vacant (Part-time), Anderson (Part-time)

The minutes of November 2nd, 2005 were approved as amended.

Announcements:

· There will not be a senate meeting on November 30^th, rather, the standing committees are to meet.  The next meeting will be December 7^th and Provost Williams will be the guest speaker.

· President DaPonte welcomed back Senator Young

· Senator Nye announced that the original production, Pulling Apart, will premier on December 10^th.  Also, Senator Nye has written a play, Foible Fables.

· Senator Diamantis announced that there will be tutoring for selected faculty on Banner 7 Navigation.

President’s Report:

The President’s Report was distributed.  President DaPonte highlighted the following:

• President DaPonte reported on the breakfast meeting between the Executive Committee and President Norton, Provost Williams, and Vice President Blake.
• President DaPonte reported on the meeting with the Academic Policy Committee of the BOT on 10/26/05.  At that meeting, Provost Williams discussed his plans for the SCSU Strategic Plan and indicated that it will include components of the Academic Strategic Plan.  Membership on the Strategic Plan Committee will be 50% faculty.
•  President DaPonte met separately with Provost Williams and they discussed the late withdrawal policy, ETAC, the General Education program, and surveys of service at SCSU.

UCF Update – Joe Fields

• The UCF at its last meeting had a discussion with the School Deans on the roles of the School Curriculum Committees.  UCF would like to see schools enforce the same criteria as specified by UCF.  While schools may add criteria, they should not subtract criteria.

Graduate Council Update – Jon Bloch

• The Graduate School is moving to B110 in Engleman on 12/2/05
• The Graduate School open house is scheduled for November 17^th
• The Graduate Council has completed its review of the standards for Graduate Faculty.

Standing Committee Reports

• Student Policy
• Senator Madonia reported that the committee is preparing a resolution in support of Academic Advising in terms of space and support needs.

• Technology
• Senator Diamantis reported that there will be a pilot program for VISTA beginning in the Spring Semester.  Al Chai and the various department chairs decided who would be on the pilot testing committee.  If a department would like to be involved in the pilot testing, they should contact Senator Diamantis.
• There have been problems across campus with the high tech classrooms and Senator Diamantis asked senators to tell faculty to contact her if they have difficulty.  She needs to document the problems.

• Academic Policy Committee
• Senator Bloch reported the committee is working on a resolution related to research reassigned time as well as continuing to look at the student evaluation form and will recommend changes if necessary.

• Elections Committee
• There was no report

• Finance Committee
• There was no report

• Personnel Policy Committee
• Senator Johnson reported that the committee continues its work on revising the P&T document.

• Rules Committee
• Senator O’Brien reported that the committee met with Jim Tait to discuss the make-up of the General Education Taskforce.  The sense of the committee, after talking with Dr. Tait, is that the General Education Taskforce should remain essentially in its current form for the present time.  However, there should be a more aggressive reporting policy to the faculty senate developed.
• The committee has also returned the Graduate Council Rules of Order to the Graduate Council for some language clarifications.
• The committee will be meeting with Provost Williams to discuss the implementation plan for the academic strategic plan.
• The committee has invited Joe Fields, Chair of UCF, and representatives of Women’s Studies and Liberal Studies to discuss their inclusion into UCF.

Old Business

o There was no old business.

New Business

o There was extensive discussion regarding the proposal by the Executive Committee to attempt to move the senate meetings to Engleman B121.  President DaPonte wanted to obtain a “Sense of the Senate” on this proposal.  Some of the discussion points included:

o Parking problems over in the Engleman area – especially for faculty with mobility problems

o The larger size of the room in Engleman compared to the Facilities Conference Room

o The problem with classes being scheduled in Engleman B 121 – would the senate have to check the availability each semester?

o Why not try to use the AVP Conference Room in Engleman A wing?  President DaPonte indicated that the former administration would not allow the senate to have food service in that room.  He was not certain if that policy was still in effect.

o Following this discussion, the Senate voted 16 to 14 to remain in the Facilities Building for the spring semester.

o Senator Dunklee suggested that the Senate consider a Communications Impact Statement Resolution.  He indicated that so many policies are put in place without adequate communication, and this results in substantial confusion throughout the university.

The senate adjourned at 1:55 PM.

Respectively Submitted,

Robert E. Jirsa, Ph.D.

Secretary of the Senate